Simpsonville Police Chief Thomas Brummer has been suspended and placed on paid leave amid an investigation into allegations of harassment and misconduct, effective immediately after a July 21 city meeting. Sergeant David Aikins has been named acting chief of the police department serving the roughly 3,000-person Shelby County city while the investigation continues.
Meeting Minutes Show Suspension Could Last 30 Days or More
According to WDRB, city meeting minutes made public this week show Brummer's suspension could last up to 30 days, or longer if investigators need more time. The city has hired an outside firm, Advanced Investigations Solutions, to examine the allegations, though officials have released no details about what Brummer is accused of doing.
Simpsonville does not record its public meetings, the outlet's reporting notes, leaving the written minutes as the only official account of the closed-door discussion that led to Brummer's suspension. The outlet said it is still waiting on an open records request for additional documentation, and Brummer has not responded to a request for comment on his suspension.
Suspension Notice Cites Policy Violations as New Leaders Settle In
A written suspension notice obtained by Muck Rack adds detail beyond the city's meeting minutes. It cites "credible allegations of harassment and violation of standards of performance and conduct" under Simpsonville's personnel policy and required Brummer to turn over his badge and equipment immediately.
Brummer served as Simpsonville's police chief for roughly two and a half years before his suspension, according to the City of Simpsonville, having been sworn in by Mayor Ronnie Sowder during a regular city meeting on February 5, 2024. Aikins — whose name appears as David Aikins in city records but has been spelled Alkins in some broadcast accounts — joined the department in April 2024 and was promoted to sergeant in October 2025 before stepping into the acting chief role. He now earns $95,000 per year in that position, per WDRB's reporting.
Local Investigations Feature in Case Background
Local coverage before the suspension included an October 2025 death investigation into a fatal shooting at the Veechdale Apartments in Simpsonville, according to WHAS11. The station reported that the victim in that case was identified as 41-year-old Brenda Selene Chiguil Acua.
In April 2025, Brummer and the Simpsonville Police Department jointly announced a 300-month sentence in a multi-agency federal methamphetamine trafficking case, while a Simpsonville detective relayed an anonymous tip, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. That case resulted in a 300-month federal prison sentence for a Kentucky man.
Kentucky Law and the Department's Past Add Context to the Case
Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 15.520, known as the Police Officer Bill of Rights, officers facing disciplinary investigation must receive written notice of the reasons within 24 hours of being suspended and may be placed on paid or unpaid leave while the probe proceeds, according to the Legislative Research Commission. The statute distinguishes formal police procedure violations from general employment policy breaches like the one cited in Brummer's case. The case also raises questions about administrative appointments and personnel disciplinary procedures under locally adopted codes.
Simpsonville is a home-rule city in Shelby County about 23 miles east of Louisville along U.S. 60, with an estimated population of 3,062 residents as of 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city and its police department operate out of headquarters at 108 Old Veechdale Road, relying on the centralized Shelby County Dispatch Center to handle emergency calls alongside the sheriff's department and the city of Shelbyville, per KIPDA Transportation.
The department's past also provides context for the case. Details about the current allegations against Brummer remain unknown, and it is unclear when the outside investigation into his conduct will conclude.
